The Jews shaved their beards and hair in time of mourning, repentance, or distress, Job 1:20Jeremiah 48:37, and in certain ceremonial purifications, Le 14:9 Numbers 8:7. At other times they wore them long, like other oriental nations'except the Egyptians, who kept their beards shaved, as we learn from Herodotus and from antique monuments. Hence Joseph shaved before he was presented to Pharaoh, Genesis 41:14. See BEARD.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Shave.

2. (n.) The act of one who, or that which, shaves; specifically, the act of cutting off the beard with a razor.

3. (n.) That which is shaved off; a thin slice or strip pared off with a shave, a knife, a plane, or other cutting instrument.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SHAVING

shav'-ing (in Job 1:20, gazaz, usually galach; in Acts 21:24, xurao): Customs as to shaving differ in different countries, and in ancient and modern times. Among the Egyptians it was customary to shave the whole body (compare Genesis 41:14). With the Israelites, shaving the head was a sign of mourning (Deuteronomy 21:12Job 1:20); ordinarily the hair was allowed to grow long, and was only cut at intervals (compare Absalom, 2 Samuel 14:26). Nazirites were forbidden to use a razor, but when their vow was expired, or if they were defiled, they were to shave the whole head (Numbers 6:5, 9, 18; compare Acts 21:24). The shaving of the beard was not permitted to the Israelites; they were prohibited from shaving off even "the corner of their beard" (Leviticus 21:5). It was an unpardonable insult when Hanun, king of the Ammonites, cut off the half of the beards of the Israelites whom David had sent to him (2 Samuel 10:41 Chronicles 19:4).

Shaving "with a razor that is hired" is Isaiah's graphic figure to denote the complete devastation of Judah by the Assyrian army (Isaiah 7:20).

First Sunday after Epiphany... As little as smearing and shaving were factors in Christ's priesthood, so little will they thus procure for anyone the Christian priesthood. .../.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/first sunday after epiphany.htm

1 Cor. Ix. 24... I surpass Peter in declining to receive [compensation], it is that they may not be offended; or descend lower than all, being circumcised and shaving my head .../.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxiii 1 cor ix.htm

'More than Conquerors through Him'... But the Ammonite courtiers need not have rejected David's overtures so insolently as by shaving half his ambassadors' beards and docking their robes. .../.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/more than conquerors through him.htm

Letter Lxx. To Magnus an Orator of Rome.... Or that shaving off and cutting away all in her that is dead whether this be idolatry, pleasure, error, or lust, I take her to myself clean and pure and beget .../.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxx to magnus an.htm

Finally, if You Think it Right, Returning to Our Inquiry...... the canton of Eleusin, the hut of Baubo, and her rustic hospitality; what the drought of cyceon [4507] means, the refusal of it, the shaving and disclosure of .../.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/35 finally if you think.htm

A Methodist Isaac Newton... Europe before. Another proof of it was this: Thirty years ago, while I was shaving, he was whittling the top of a stick. I asked .../.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/a methodist isaac newton.htm

Plough (11 Occurrences)... 5. (n.) A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane. 6. (n.) An implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books. .../p/plough.htm - 11k

Bible Concordance

Shaving (2 Occurrences)

Numbers 6:19 And the priest hath taken the boiled shoulder from the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one thin unleavened cake, and hath put on the palms of the Nazarite after his shaving his separation;(YLT)

Isaiah 22:12 And in that day the Lord, the Lord of armies, was looking for weeping, and cries of sorrow, cutting off of the hair, and putting on the clothing of grief:(See NAS)